TRUMP WH ‘EXPLORING EVERY LEGAL OPTION’ TO RECLAIM MONEY FROM DEFUNCT CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT: The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is exploring "every legal option" to reclaim $2.5 billion in federal funds spent by California on its now-defunct high-speed rail project, and also that it intends to cancel $928 million in federal grants not yet paid for the project to link Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The move was a dramatic escalation in the ongoing war of words and policy between California and the White House. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, declared during his State of the State address last week that he was shelving plans for the $77 billion rail project that had been championed by environmental groups, admitting that "as currently planned, [it] would cost too much and take too long."

A graduate of Northwestern University and Harvard Law School, Rosen previously served as general counsel and senior policy adviser for the White House Office of Management and Budget (2006-2009) and as general counsel at the Department of Transportation (2003-2006), according to his online biography.

The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Kentucky, accuses the Post of practicing "a modern-day form of McCarthyism" by targeting Nicholas Sandmann and "using its vast financial resources to enter the bully pulpit by publishing a series of false and defamatory print and online articles ... to smear a young boy who was in its view an acceptable casualty in their war against the president."

State's Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear why. First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats will take over the case as acting state's attorney, Fox News has learned.

A NARRATIVE TO BE PROMOTED – "A lot of people bought into the Jussie Smollett narrative, which is that Trump supporters are stalking black people all around America seeking to beat them, seeking to harass them, and this was a perfect story. Now when a story is too perfect to be true, it usually is." – Ben Shapiro, host of the nationally syndicated radio program and podcast, “The Ben Shapiro Show,” appearing on "The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino," discussing the media's coverage of the alleged hate crime attack on actor Jussie Smollett.WATCH

"UN-PC" with Britt McHenry and Tyrus – "UN-PC" is the home of raw and unfiltered conversation. Hear what Britt McHenry and Tyrus really think about the latest in politics, sports, & more. Watch a preview of the show now.

The Fox News Rundown podcast: "Border Wall Battle Will Hit Courts" – Sixteen states have filed lawsuits against the national emergency declaration President Trump announced last week. Jonathan Turley is a professor of public interest law at George Washington University Law School, and he explains that presidents have the right to declare emergencies and states have the right to push back. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has announced he is giving his progressive political ideas a second shot and running for president in 2020. FOX News Washington correspondent Rachel Sutherland and FOX Politics Editor Chris Stirewalt discuss what we saw with his first run and what we can expect to be different this time around. Plus, commentary by FOXNews.com and New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz.

1907: President Theodore Roosevelt signed an immigration act that excluded "idiots, imbeciles, feebleminded persons, epileptics, insane persons" from being admitted to the United States.

1792: President George Washington signed an act creating the United States Post Office Department.

Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this edition. Thank you for joining us! Have a good day! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday morning.